Access to Medications Toolkit6/27/2007NAMIís Access to Medications Toolkit is designed to help NAMI state organizations and affiliates advocate on medication access issues in their communities. For further assistance, please contact Angela Kimball at angelak@nami.org.

Regulations for Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Issued8/05/2004The first set of proposed regulations implementing the new Medicare prescription drug benefit were published on August 3. This first "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (NPRM) runs more than 1,300 pages and sets forth initial guidelines for the new drug benefit that will go into effect in January 2006.

NAMI's Position on the Issue:

FDA's Drug Approval Process - Up to the Challenge?Statement of Andrew Sperling, Director of Federal Legislative Advocacy on Behalf of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill Before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
United States Senate
March 1, 2005

CMS Advises Against Restricting Access to MedicationsOn August 20, 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Technical Assistance Paper -"Psychotropic Medications: Addressing Costs without Restricting Access." CMS supports several state efforts to control the escalation in prescription drug costs while maintaining access to newer, effective medications.

NAMI Policy Research InstituteLearn more about NAMI's Policy Research Institute, whose mission is to drive national, state, and local debates on reforms and investments in the nation's mental illness delivery and financing system.

The Risks of Cost-SharingRecent studies find that increasing cost-shairng for health benefits may result in decreased compliance with drug regimens. This may have negative consequences long-term.

Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP)TMAP, started in 1996, is designed to develop, implement and evaluate not just a set of medication algorithms, but an algorithm-driven treatment philosophy for major adult psychiatric disorders treated in the Texas public mental health sector.

Kaiser Family FoundationProvides information and analysis on a broad range of policy issues, emphasizing those that most affect low-income and vulnerable populations. Major initiatives and focus areas include the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured and the Medicare Policy Project.